Blog #13

Textbook: Chapter 9
1. As the war in Europe ended, a new type of war had evolved that would change the lives of families in the United States. The Cold War was had begun and the United States was getting ready to go against an enemy that had once been an ally. Some American women who were involved in politics were accused of being communists because of some of their beliefs. These women’s political positions were usually taken away from them because of these accusations. Meanwhile, women had returned to the home in order to take on their domestic work. This time, these families lived a life of fear because they were unsure of what the arms race would do and how far the soviets would go. Many also believed that the working women were actually harming their children by taking on jobs rather than taking care of their children. They argued that parents who did not take on their regular gender roles had a better chance of raising homosexual children and that separate gender roles created heterosexuality in children.

2. Betty Friedan had argued that the United States media and culture created the women’s domestic roles. Historians revision of Friedan’s book stated that Friedan did not talk about the differences of these women regarding class and race because most of the women that Friedan talked about in her book were wealthy white women. Friedan stated that the media had not shown these wealthy business women. Magazines such as Ebony were able to show the African-American women who had been successful in business and politics even though they were discriminated against. Other magazines even encouraged women to work and usually featured women with successful careers.

3. Women began the activist movements in order to live better lives. These activist women had fought for their opportunity to go into the workforce and challenged many different ideas regarding women. These women’s challenges had brought upon many difficulties as well. Women believed that they were being treated unfairly in the workforce. These women had been brought back to the same prewar jobs where they would have low wages and were even forced out of their jobs in order to make more room for the male workers who did not even argue with the employer’s decision. Many of the women workers had also been discriminated against and, therefore, protested not only for racial equality, but for equality in the workforce as well.

4. The “Bridge Leaders” that existed in the time of the civil rights movement had made an impact across the nation because of their large influence. These women had demonstrated their will and showed their strength throughout their communities in order to prove to many others the importance of standing for what they believe in. The concept of the term identifies how these women had fought against racial discrimination. They pursued equality using a method which involved sit-ins or the famous Freedom Rides. These women had used a method that caused a lot of controversy and media attention which was important in getting their word across throughout the nation.